Hook fastener with spring closure

ABSTRACT

A hook fastener having a closure for closing a hook mouth. A keeper selectively prevents opening of the closure and includes a body having a base and a hook extending from the base to define a gap. The base has an external face and an opening with a mouth intersecting the external face. The closure includes a shaft and a grip, the grip protruding from the shaft through the mouth. A spring urges the closure such that the shaft may selectively extend out of the opening. The keeper is received to rotate upon the external face. A slot in the keeper extends parallel to the mouth, the keeper selectively preventing the user from retracting the closure from the gap.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of my pending application Ser. No.12/460244, filed Jul. 16, 2009, Title: HOOK FASTENER WITH SPRING CLOSUREand I claim the benefit with respect thereto under 35 U.S.C. Section120.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a hook fastener for connecting a belt,such as a sling of a camera, shoulder belt of a bag, or another type ofbelt, and a 5 connecting device such as a ring.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A hook fastener with a spring closure is commonly used for engaging aring or a fitting on a bag, camera, or the like, for attaching a belt.By releasably fastening the belt in this way, a bag may be provided, forinstance, with a 10 detachable shoulder strap or carry handle. A commonhook fastener for this application has a sliding closure urged by aspring to close the mouth of the hook.

To provide some degree of security when leaving a bag briefly unattendedthe user may loop a releasably fastened shoulder strap about a piece offurniture, 15 or the like. This simple technique can be performedquickly and without drawing attention and this has been found sufficientto defeat casual theft. Of course for greater security the end of thestrap could be fixed to the bag by a lock, however a lock would addconsiderable cost and weight to the fastener. It will be understood,therefore, that there is a need for a hook fastener for 20 such anapplication that is able to provide improved deterrence of casual theft,without substantially increasing the cost of the fastener. It is anobject of the present invention to overcome to address this need or,more generally, to provide an improved hook fastener.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided ahook 5 fastener comprising:

-   -   a body having a base portion and a hook portion extending from        an end of the base portion to define a gap between the hook and        the base portion;    -   an external face on the base portion;    -   an abutment on, or fastened to, the body to project from the        external face;    -   10 an opening formed in the base portion, the opening having an        elongate mouth intersecting the external face;    -   a closure having a shaft part and a grip part, the shaft part        received in the opening, the grip part protruding from the shaft        part through the mouth for manipulation by a user;    -   15 a spring urging the closure such that the shaft part extends        out of the opening into the gap, and    -   a keeper received to rotate upon the external face, the keeper        being located between the abutment and grip part, a slot in the        keeper extending parallel to the mouth, the keeper preventing        the user retracting the closure from the gap, 20 except when the        slot is angularly aligned with the mouth.

Preferably the keeper is formed of resilient material and has an innersurface complementary to the external face of the base portion, and atleast one projection extending radially inwardly of the inner surface,each projection 5 being configured for receipt in the mouth therebyproviding a detent for locating the keeper in an angular position inwhich it prevents the user retracting the closure from the gap.

Preferably the projection and mouth have first respective edges whichsubstantially abut to restrict rotation of the keeper relative to thebody in a first 10 direction, and second respective edges whichsubstantially abut to restrict relative rotation of the keeper in asecond direction opposite the first direction, wherein at least one ofthe first and second edges is radiused or chamfered relative to theothers of the first and second edges.

Preferably the keeper has a penannular form, and the inner surface ispart-15cylindrical.

Preferably the keeper further includes a part-cylindrical outer surfaceand a tab projecting from the outer surface for providing a handle.Preferably one of said projections is angularly aligned with the tab.

Preferably the keeper has inner and outer end surfaces disposedproximate the 20 abutment face and grip part respectively, and wherein anub projects from the outer surface to abut the grip part and restrictrotation of the keeper.

Optionally a plurality of slotted keepers may be mounted for rotation onthe external face.

This invention provides a device which effectively and efficientlyprovides a degree of casual security for hook fasteners and it has asimple design which 5 minimises manufacturing costs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way ofexample with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

10 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of hook fastener according to a firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the hook fastener of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross section through the hook fastener of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of hook fastener according to a second 15embodiment of the present invention, and

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the hook fastener of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings a first embodiment of a hookfastener 10 for connecting a belt 11 includes a D-shaped ring coupling12 to which the belt is connected and a body 13 permanently connected tothe ring coupling 12 for relative rotation about an axis 14.

The body 13 includes a base portion 15 and a hook portion 16 extendingfrom 5 a first end of the base portion 15 to define a gap 17 between thehook and the base portions. At a second end of the base portion 15 areinner and outer circumferential ribs 18, 19 disposed generallytransversely and spaced longitudinally. The inner rib 18 defines anabutment that projects outwardly from a cylindrical, axially-alignedexternal face 20 of the base portion 15. 10 Both the ribs 18, 19 projectoutward from a cylindrical section 21 extending therebetween. The innerrib 18 has a transverse abutment face 22 intersecting the external face20. An opening 23 extends in the axial direction through the baseportion. The opening 23 includes a cylindrical part 24 extending thefull length of the base portion 15 and a slot part 25 which 15intersects with the cylindrical part 24, forming a keyhole-shapedsection extending from the second end, through the rib 19, cylindricalsection 21 and rib 18 to terminate at transverse end face 26. Anelongate mouth 27—formed by the slot part 25—intersects with theexternal face 20.

A closure 28 has a shaft part 29 complementary to the cylindrical part24 of 20 the opening 23. A grip 30 includes a bulbous head 31 joined bya neck 32 to the shaft part 29. The neck 32 extends radially and iscomplementary to the slot part 25.

The D-shaped ring coupling 12 includes a transverse arm section 36joined by arcuate arms 37, 38 to two transverse flanges 33, 34. Anopening 35 in the outer flange 33 is sized to receive the outer rib 19therethrough and the flanges 33, 34 are axially spaced sufficiently toreceive the rib 19 between 5 them.

A keeper 40 moulded from a resilient polymer has a substantiallypenannular form having parallel end faces 41, 42 lying in respectiveradial planes. An axial slot 43 extends in the axial direction betweenthe end faces 41, 42. The keeper 40 has coaxial, substantiallycylindrical inner and outer faces 45, 46 10 and a tab 44 projectsradially from the outer face 46 on one side of the slot 43. A nub 47 isformed on the radial face 41. Aligned with the inner end of the tab 44,a projection 48 extends inwardly from the cylindrical face 45.

As shown in FIG. 3, a radiused edge 49 joins the projection 48 to thecylindrical face 45, while the opposing edge 50 of the projection 48,bounding 15 the slot 43, is relatively sharp. Likewise the opposingedges 51, 52 of the mouth 27 are relatively sharp.

To assemble the hook fastener 10, the closure 28 is inserted in theopening 23, sliding the neck 32 through the slot part 25 into the mouth27. Capturing a helical compression spring 60 between the flange 34 andshaft part 29, the 20 rib 19 is entered through the opening 35 into thespace between the flanges 33, 34. The outer flange 33 may then bedeformed to permanently connect the base portion 15 and ring coupling12, while allowing free relative rotation between them. The slot 43 isopened to insert the keeper 40 over the external face 20, between theabutment face 22 and the grip 30.

The spring 60 moves the closure 28 to its closed position, urging theshaft 29 out of the opening into the gap 17 toward the hook portion 16.The grip 30 5 protrudes through the mouth 27, but before the user canmanipulate the grip 30 to open the closure 28 the keeper 40 must berotated to angularly aligned the slot 43 with the mouth 27 (as shown inFIG. 3) and in all other angular positions the keeper 40 prevents axialmovement of the closure 28.

The nub 47 provides a stop surface which abuts the neck 32, providing alimit 10 to rotation of the keeper 40 in a first direction (as shown inFIG. 1). When the tab 44 is rotated in a second direction opposite thefirst direction generally into axial alignment with the grip 30, theprojection 48 is urged into the mouth 27. Further rotation of the keeperin the second direction is resisted by abutment between the relativelysharp edges 50, 51 whereas rotation in the 15 first direction isfacilitated by virtue of the radiused edge 49 abutting the edge 52. Theprojection 48 thus provides a stop or detent limiting rotation of thekeeper 40 in a second direction. Therefore, without needing to checkvisually, or to manually try the closure, the user can ensure that theclosure is locked when the keeper 40 is rotated in either direction tothe end of its travel.

20 A second embodiment of a hook fastener 110 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5includes a body 113, keeper 140 and D-shaped ring coupling 112. Likenumbers are used to refer to like components in both embodiments. Thissecond embodiment differs from the first in that the axis of rotation 14of the body 113 relative to the D-shaped ring coupling 112 is acutelyinclined to the axis 70 of the cylindrical part 24 and the cylindricalsection 21, along which the closure reciprocates. The axis 14 bisectsthe transverse arm section 36, passes 5 through the apex 71 of theconcave face of the hook portion 16 and intersects with the axis 70 atapproximately 15 degrees. Accordingly, the axes of the cylindricalsection 21 and external face 20 are inclined to one another and theflange 18 is tapered. The cylindrical section 21 forms a neck thatextends between the inner flange 18 and a head 72 in which thetransverse end face 10 26 is provided. The head 72 has the same outerdiameter as the penannular part of the keeper 140. The penannular face73 formed by the broader head 72 is parallel to the abutment face 22 andthe keeper 140 is located between the faces 73 and 22.

The keeper 140 has like form to the keeper 40 of the first embodiment,but 15 without the nub 47. The D-shaped ring coupling 112 has like formto the ring coupling 12 of the first embodiment, but without thetransverse flange 34.

The hook fastener 110 further includes a fastener 75 which is fixed inthe end of the cylindrical part 24 of the opening 23 to bear against onend of the spring 60.

20 The second embodiment works in like manner to the first but (in theabsence of the nub 47) it is the tab 44 that serves to limit rotation ofthe keeper 140 about the axis 70 by abutting the hook part 16.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of exampleonly and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions maybe made thereto without departing from the scope thereof.

1. A hook fastener comprising: a body having a base portion and a hookportion extending from an end of the base portion to define a gapbetween the hook and the base portion; an external face on the baseportion; a shoulder integral with the body to project from the externalface and said shoulder defining an abutment; an opening formed in thebase portion, the opening having a keyhole shaped portion with anelongate mouth intersecting the external face; a closure having a shaftpart and a grip part, the shaft part received in the opening, the grippart protruding from the shaft part through the mouth for manipulationby a user; a spring urging the closure such that the shaft part extendsout of the opening into the gap, and a keeper received to rotate uponthe external face, the keeper having a substantially penannular form andbeing located between the abutment and grip part, a slot in the keeperextending parallel to the mouth, the keeper preventing the userretracting the closure from the gap, except when the slot is angularlyaligned with the mouth and said keeper has a cylindrical inner surfaceand a cylindrical outer surface and a tab projecting from the outersurface for providing a handle and a projection angularly aligned withthe tab and said projection selectively positionable in said mouth. 2.The hook fastener of claim 1 wherein the keeper is formed of resilientmaterial and has an inner surface complementary to the external face ofthe base portion, and said projection extending radially inwardly of theinner surface, and said projection being configured for receipt in themouth thereby providing a detent for locating the keeper in an angularposition in which it prevents the user retracting the closure from thegap.
 3. The hook fastener of claim 1 wherein the projection and mouthhave first respective edges which substantially abut to restrictrotation of the keeper relative to the body in a first direction, andsecond respective edges which substantially abut to restrict relativerotation of the keeper in a second direction opposite the firstdirection, wherein at least one of the first and second edges isradiused or chamfered relative to the others of the first and secondedges, and the keeper further includes a cylindrical outer surface and atab aligned with one of said projections, the tab projecting from theouter surface for providing a handle
 4. The hook fastener of claim 3further including a D-shaped ring coupling connected to the body and abelt fastened to the ring coupling.
 5. A hook fastener comprising: abody having a base portion and a hook portion extending from an end ofthe base portion to define a gap between the hook and the base portion;an external face on the base portion, the external face having a firstaxis; a shoulder integral with the body to project from the externalface, and said shoulder defining an abutment; an opening formed in thebase portion, the opening having a keyhole shaped portion with anelongate mouth intersecting the external face and a cylindrical partcoaxial with the first axis; a closure having a shaft part and a grippart, the shaft part received in the opening to reciprocate parallel tothe first axis , the grip part protruding from the shaft part throughthe mouth for manipulation by a user; a spring urging the closure suchthat the shaft part extends out of the opening into the gap; a ringcoupling secured to the body for rotation relative to the body about asecond axis inclined acutely to the first axis, and a keeper received torotate upon the external face, the keeper having a substantiallypenannular form and being located between the abutment and grip part, aslot in the keeper extending parallel to the mouth, the keeperpreventing the user retracting the closure from the gap, except when theslot is angularly aligned with the mouth and said keeper has asubstantially penannular form with an inner surface cylindrical and acylindrical outer surface and a tab projecting from the outer surfacefor providing a handle and a projection angularly aligned with the taband said projection selectively positionable in said mouth.
 6. The hookfastener of claim 5 wherein the hook portion has a concave face havingan apex and the ring coupling includes a transverse arm portiontransverse to, and bisected by, the second axis, and wherein the secondaxis passes through the apex of the concave face of the hook portion. 7.The hook fastener of claim 1 wherein the external face forms a narrowneck extending between a head part and a flange both integral with thebody, the head part and the flange having respective opposing penannularfaces between which the keeper is located.
 8. The hook fastener of claim15 further including a D-shaped ring coupling connected to the body anda belt fastened to the ring coupling.
 9. A keeper, comprising, incombination: a tubular body member having a substantially penannularform having a first end surface and a second end surface axially spacedfrom said first end surface, and said first end surface and said secondend surface lie in radial planes, and said body member having acylindrical outer surface and a cylindrical inner surface; a slot insaid body member having a first edge and a second edge, and said slotextending through said body member from said cylindrical outer surfaceto said cylindrical inner surface and from said first end surface tosaid second end surface; a projection on said body member aligned withone of said first edge and said second edge of said slot, saidprojection extending radially inwardly from said cylindrical outersurface to regions radially inwardly from said cylindrical innersurface.
 10. The arrangement defined in claim 9 wherein: said projectionextends from said first end surface to said second end surface of saidbody member.
 11. The arrangement defined in claim 9 wherein: said keeperis resilient.
 12. The arrangement defined in claim 9 and furthercomprising: a tab mounted on said cylindrical outer surface of said bodymember intermediate said first end surface and said second end surfaceand said tab extending radially outwardly from said cylindrical outersurface of said body member and said tab providing a handle.
 13. Thearrangement defined in claim 12 wherein: said tab is angularly alignedwith said projection.
 14. The arrangement defined in claim 9 and furthercomprising: a nub extending axially from said first end surface of saidbody member.
 15. The arrangement defined in claim 12 and furthercomprising: a nub extending axially from said first end surface of saidbody member.
 15. The arrangement defined in claim 9 wherein: saidprojection has a first projection inner edge and a second projectioninner edge spaced circumferentially from said first projection inneredge, one of said first projection inner edge and said second projectioninner edge is radiused.